Gas panel with multi-directional shifting arrangement

ABSTRACT

A gas panel arrangement for storing, displaying, and selectively shifting information from one place therein to another includes an envelope filled with an illuminable gas, a plurality of vertical conductors disposed in parallel on one side of the envelope, a plurality of horizontal conductors disposed in parallel on the opposite side of the envelope with the regions of illuminable gas in the vicinity of the coordinate intersections of the vertical and horizontal conductors defining gas cells, and a writing arrangement which inserts binary information in a given portion of the envelope by igniting or not igniting the illuminable gas to represent binary ones and zeros. In order to accomplish shifting a sequence of signals is repetitively supplied to sets of the vertical conductors to shift binary information horizontally from one gas cell to another, and a sequence of signals is repetitively supplied to sets of the horizontal conductors to shift binary information vertically from one gas cell to another.

nited States atent [1 1' McDowell et a1. Mar. 5, 1974 GAS PANEL WITH MULTl-DIRECTIONAL [57] ABSTRACT SHIFTiNG ARRANGEMENT A gas panel arrangement for storing, displaying, and [75] Inventors; Allen W. McDowell, Kingston; selectively shifting information from one place therein Frank M. Lay, Woodstock, both of to another includes an envelope filled with an illumin- N.Y. able gas, a plurality of vertical conductors disposed in [73] Assignee: International Business Machines Parallel on one side the ellvelope a plurality of Corporation, Armonk NY. iaontal conductors disposed in parallel on the opposite side of the envelope with the regions of illuminable [22] Filed: June 13, 1972 gas in the vicinity of the coordinate intersections of the vertical and horizontal conductors defining gas [21] Appl' 262367 cells, and a writing arrangement which inserts binary information in a given portion of the envelope by ig- [52] US. Cl. 340/324 M, 313/201, 315/169 R niting or not igniting the illuminable gas to represent [51] Int. Cl. H0lj 11/04 binary ones and zeros. In order to accomplish shifting [58] Field of Search... 340/324 R, 324 M; 315/84.6, a sequence of signals is repetitively supplied to sets of 315/169 R; 313/201 the vertical conductors to shift binary information p v horizontally from one gas cell to another, and a se- [56] References Cited quence of signals is repetitively supplied to sets of the UNITED STATES PATENTS horizontal conductors to shift binary information ver- 2,847,615 8/1958 Engelbart 315/84.6 Cally from one gas to another- 2,869,036 1/1959 Engelbart 315/84.6

Primary ExaminerJohn W. Caldwell Assistant Examiner-Marshall M. Curtis WitoTiijIi Tfit] a; 'FiFFfi ITaIpFITTI'HEnIas" 6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PAIENTED m 5 I914 SHEET 2 OF 4 Q MEET T m fizs 1 NEE; T EEE T IIIAIIm EEw IVAIIIIN EEm T P EEw all $22 :25; J u q 3 3 3 E 31 21 $1 21 :1 at $22 2 j 2m 2m :m in gm wow Sm mom m3 m new New 5m 1. ii a n.w\ \.i -i -i--!- 1L3 SHEEI 301 4 K. K 5.5K

ll lllll ll llllh IIIIIIIIIIIILI IIIIIIIIILI I III .Il-Il-lll llr Ill Illllkl GNIEEVE PATENTEBm 5 m4 a ma Om GAS PANEL Wll'llll-I MULTll-DIRECTIONAL SI-IIF TING ARRANGEMENT CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Application Ser. 214,348 filed on Dec. 30, 1971 for Gas Panel Fabrication by Peter H. Haberland et al.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to gas panels and more particularly to such devices where information stored and displayed therein may be shifted horizontally and vertically.

In earlier gas panels information is stored and displayed by a writing arrangement which placed the information directly in the selected location. For example, binary ones are written in a selected location by energizing the appropriate vertical and horizontal conductors with signals which created a potential difference across the selected gas cell equal to or greater than the ignition potential of the gas thereby to ignite the selected cell. Such a writing arrangement requires a driving circuit for each vertical conductor, and a driving circuit for each horizontal conductor, and selection means to activate a selected vertical driver and a selected horizontal driver in order to ignite the gas cell defined by the coordinate intersection of the selected vertical and horizontal lines. This results in a complex vertical and horizontal selection network, particularly for a large gas panel, as well as a large number of horizontal and vertical driving circuits. If provision is made for selectively erasing ignited gas cells, the complexity of the driving circuits is further increased because the erase operation requires changing the polarity of at least one of the driving signals on the vertical or horizontal conductors. The result is ahigh cost of manufacture, operation, and repair. There is a need, therefore, for a shifting arrangement which permits the writing of binary information in a selected portion of a gas panel and which thereafter may be selectively shifted along the vertical and horizontal conductors to a given destination. lt-is desirable, if possible,'to do this with less complexity and hence at reduced cost. It is to such a simplified writing and shifting arrangement that this invention is directed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a feature of this invention to provide a gas panel for storing, displaying, and selectively shifting informa tion from one place therein to another.

It is a feature of this invention to provide a gas panel in which information may be selectively shifted horizontally and vertically.

It is another feature of this invention to provide a gas panel for storing, displaying, and selectively shifting information from one. place therein to another by an arrangement which is simple in construction and relatively inexpensive to manufacture, operate, and maintain.

In one arrangement according to this invention a gas panel is provided for storing, displaying, and selectively shifting information from one place therein to another by an arrangement which includes an envelope filled with an illuminable gas which has a plurality of vertical conductors disposed in parallel on one side of the envelope and a plurality of horizontal conductors disposed in parallel on the opposite side of the envelope thereby to form a matrix array. The illuminable gas in the vicinity of the coordinate intersections of the vertical and horizontal conductors define gas cells. A writing device is coupled to a given portion of the envelope for writing information therein by igniting or not igniting the illuminable gas to represent binary ones and zeros. The writing device may include an additional horizontal or vertical conductor along which new information is written by signals which exceed the ignition potential of the illuminable gas. Once information is written along the additional vertical or horizontal conductor, it thereafter is shifted through the matrix array of vertical and horizontal conductors to selected destinations. Infor mation may be written in a single gas cell and thereafter shifted into the matrix array, or it may be written into a plurality of gas cells simultaneously andthereafter shifted into the matrix array. Information is shifted by applying a repetitive sequence of discrete signals to sets of the vertical conductors when shifting horizontally and by applying a repetitive sequence of discrete signal to sets of the horizontal lines when shifting vertically. If each set includes three conductors, for example, then a signal source may provide discrete signals P1, P2, and P3 for shifting information horizontally. When shifting information to the right, for example, the P1 pulses are connected to vertical conductors 1,4,7, N2, wherein N is any integer which is a multiple of three and the conductors are numbered from left to right; P2 signals are connected to vertical conductors 2,5,8, N-ll; the P3 signals are connected to the vertical conductors 3,6,9, N; and each set of three vertical conductors is energized seriatim by the successive signals P1, P2, and P3 in the direction of the horizontal shift of binary information to the right, If the order of the pulses is reversed to occur in the sequence P3,P2,Pl, then a left shift of information is accomplished. Another signal source may provide a repetitive sequence of signals R1, R2, and R3 for shifting information vertically when each set uses three conductors. In this event the R1 signals are connected to the horizontal conductors 1,4,7, W2, where W is any integer which is a multiple of three and the conductors are numbered from top to bottom; the R2 signals are connected to the horizontal conductors 2,5,8, W-l; the R3 signals are connected to the horizontal conductors 3,6,9, W; and each set of three horizontal conductors is energized seriatim by the successive signals R1, R2, and R3 in the downward direction of the vertical shift of of binary information. If the order of the pulses are reversed to occur in the sequence R3,R2,Rl, then a vertical shift upward is accomplished. Information once written must be sustained. In one arrangement information written into the matrix array may be sustained by continuously applying the pulses P1 and R1 to their associated lines after shifting is terminated. It may be that a complex sequence of events take place when information is shifted which possibly may not be adequately explained. However, it has been found that shifting can be accomplished by the repetitive sequence of signals provided that a source of normalize signals is employed to supply a normalize signal to each shifted cell after each one of the individual signals in the repetitive sequence of signals. The normalize signals are applied in a manner to reverse the wall charge across each previously ignited gas cell, and'it is felt that the normalize signals serve to complete the shift as well as place the shifted binary information precisely in the intended new locations or destination i.e. at coordinate intersections and not somewhere therebetween. The function of the normalize signals may be performed in some cases by available signals from a different source. For example, if information is stored in a matrix array where it may be shifted horizontally and vertically, the P3 pulses may be generated to serve the normalize function for the sequence of pulses R1, R2, and R3 when shifting vertically, and the R3 pulses may be generated to perform the normalize function for the repetitive sequence of pulses P1, P2, and P3 when shifting horizontally.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrated one embodiment according to this invention for shifting information horizontally.

7 FIG. 2 shows a series of waveforms helpful in explaining the operation of the embodiment of FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 in F IG.1.

FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment according to the invention for shifting information horizontally and vertically.

FIG. 5 shows a series of waveforms helpful in explaining the operation of the embodiment in FIG.4

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A gas filled container serves as a storage or display device. The container 10 may be filled with a combination of illuminable gasses in the vicinity of atmospheric pressure. One suitable such container is illustrated and described in copending application Ser. No. 214,348 filed on Dec. 30, 1971 for Gas Panel Fabrication by Peter H. Haberland et al.

A set of horizontal conductors through 19 are disposed as shown beneath the gas. A set of vertical conductors 21 through 29 are disposed as shown above the gas. The horizontal conductors or drive lines 15 through 19 and the vertical conductors or drive lines 21 through 29 serve as coordinate lines which divide the gas into an array of gas cells. Gas cells are defined by the regions of the gas between the vertical and horizontal lines at the coordinate intersections of such horizontal and vertical lines.

A vertical line 40 disposed above the gas and a plurality of horizontal drive lines 45 through 49 disposed beneath the gas are used to insert or write data in the gas by igniting or not igniting the gas cells defined by the coordinate intersections of the vertical drive line 40 and the horizontal drive lines 45 through 49 thereby to represent binary information. The gas filled container 10, sometimes referred to as a gas panel, is operated by signals applied to the vertical and horizontal drive lines. A normalize pulse generator 60 supplies signals on an output line 61 to the horizontal drive lines 15 through 19. Signals from the normalize pulse generator 60 on the line 61 are supplied also through an inverter 62 to a pulse distributor 63. The pulse distributor 63 in turn provides signals on output lines 71 through 73. Signals on the output line 71 are supplied to a set of vertical drive lines 21,24, and 27. Signals on the output line 72 are supplied to a set of vertical drive lines 22,25, and 28. Signals on the output line 73 are supplied to a set of vertical drive lines 23,26 and 29. Signals on the output line 73 are supplied also to a set of gates 81 through 85. A character generator supplies signals representing binary data on output lines 91 through to respective gates 81 through 85.

Reference is made next to FIG.2 for a discussion of the relationship of the operating signals supplied by the normalize pulse generator 60, the pulse distributor 63 and the character generator 90 for operating the gas panel 10 in FIG.1. Curves (A) through (E) are shown in FIG.2. Curve (A) shows P1 pulses from the pulse distributor 63 in FIG.1 which are supplied on the line 71 to the vertical drive lines 21, 24, and 27. Curve (B) in FIG.2 shows the P2 pulses supplied by the pulse distributor 63 in FIG. 1 on the line 72 to the vertical drivelines 22,25, and 28. Curve (C) in FIG.2 shows the pulses P3 supplied by the pulse distributor 63 in FlG.1 on the line 73 to the vertical drive lines 23,26, and 29 as well as the set of gates 81 through 85. The Curve (D) in FIG.2 shows normalize pulses supplied by the normalize pulse generator 60 in FIG.1 on the line 61 to the horizontal drive lines 15 through 19 and the inverter 62. Curve (E) in FIG.2 shows data pulses. The presence of a positive pulse is arbitratily assumed to represent a binary one, and the absence of a pulse is arbitrarily assumed to represent a binary zero. Signals representing binary data are supplied simultaneously from the character generator 90 in FIG.1 on respective lines 91 through 95. These signals are passed by respective gates 81 through 85 to the associated drive lines 45 through 49 whenever a P3 pulse occurs. The amplitude of each positive data pulse, representing a binary one, is sufficient to ignite the illuminable gas between the vertical drive line 40 in FlG.l and the horizontal drive lines 45 through 49 whenever such drive lines receive binary one data pulses. The vertical drive line 40 is illustrated arbitrarily as being grounded. It is presumed for purposes of illustration that any conductor not energized with a positive pulse remains at ground potential. The amplitude of the binary ones data pulses applied on the lines 45 through 49 is sufficient to equal or exceed the ignition potential of the illuminable gas of the gas panel 10. Binary ones are represented by ignited gas cells, and binary zeros are represented by dark or non-ignited gas cells in the gas panel. Curve (-E) in FIG.2 arbitrarily depicts data pulses supplied to the horizontal line 45 in FIG.1. The pulse shown in dotted line form represents the absence of a pulse or binary zero. The remaining pulses of Curve (E) in FIG.2 depict signals representing binary one. Additional curves in FIG.2 representing binary signals supplied to the horizontal lines 46 through 49 are omitted in the interest of simplicity.

The operation of the gas panel 10 in FIG.1 is discussed next using the curves illustrated in FIG.2. For this illustration information is entered on the left of the gas panel 10, and it is shifted successively to the right. Data signals may be supplied on each one of the horizontal lines 45 through 49 to insert binary information in the gas panel 10, and thereafter this information is shifted to the right in response to the normalized pulses from the normalize pulse generator 60 and the pulses P1, P2 and P3 from the pulse distributor 63. Let it be assumed for illustrative purposes that the binary data signals illustrated in FlG.2 (E) are supplied to the horizonal line 45 in FlG.l in response to P3 pulses and that the normalized pulse generator 60 in FlG.1 and the pulse distributor 63 are operated to provide the signals illustrated in curves (A) through (D) in FlG.2. Data signals supplied to the horizontal lines 46 through 49 in FlG.1 are omitted from this discussion in the interest of simplicity. It is assumed that all cells of the gas panel initially are dark.

The normalize pulse generator 60 in F101 supplies a wave train composed of positive pulses 121 through 130, as illustrated in curve (D) of FIG.2, on the line 61 in FIG.1 to the horizontal drive lines 15 through 19 and the inverter 62. The pulse distributor 63 in FIG.1 supplies P1, P2, and P3 in a repetitive sequence to the associated vertical drive lines 21 through 29 in response to the inverted pulses from the inverter 62. The pulses P3 are supplied also to a set of gates 81 through 85 to insert new data in the gas panel 10. The P3 pulse 140 of curve (C) occurs first, and thereafter the pulses P1 through P3 occur in a repetitive sequence as repre sented by the pulses 141 through 143, 144 through 146, and 147 through 149 of curves (A) through (C) in FlG.2. The pulses 121 through 130 and 140 through 149 in FlG.2 have an amplitude which exceeds the sustained potential of theilluminable gas in the panel in FlG.l, but the amplitude of these pulses is less than the ignition potential of the illuminable gas. The data pulses supplied from the character generator 90 in F lG.1 through the gate 81, in response to P3 pulses, to the horizontal line 45 are sufficient in amplitude to equal or exceed the ignition potential of the illuminable gas of the gas panel 10. The data pulses for this discussion are illustrated as pulses 161 through 164 of curve (E) in F162. It is pointed out that signals of sustain amplitude may be used to gate a pilot gas cell, one constantly storing a binary one, into the shifting matrix if desired.

The write period is defined by the P3 pulses in curv es (C) of FIG.2, and the write period takes place at the end of each shift operation. The first P3 pulse is the pulse 140 in FIG.2, and it operates the gate 81 to pass a positive signal 161 from the character generator 90 on the line9l to the horizontal line 45 in F161. The positivepulse 161 in Curve (E) of P162 exceeds the ignition potential of the gas cell disposed between the coordinate intersection of the horizontal drive line 45 and the vertical drive line 40 in F161 and this gas cell is ignited. This completes the write 1 cycle shown in curve (E) of FlG.2. The write pulse 161 of curve (E) in FlG.2 is followed by the normalize pulse 121 of curve (D) which is applied to the horizontal drive lines through 19 in F101, and the normalize pulse (Z) serves to sustain all previously ignited gas cells throughout the remainder of the gas panel 10 in FIG.1. The normalize pulse 121 of curve (D) in FIG.2 is followed by the Pl pulse 141 of curve (A). This pulse is supplied, among other places, to the vertical drive line 21. The pulse 141 ignites the region between the lower portion of the gas cell at the coordinate intersection of the drive lines 40 and 45 and the upper portion of the gas cell at the coordinate intersection .of the drive lines 15 and 21. This occurs for reasons pointed out more fully hereinafter. The pulse 141 of curve (A) in F162 is fol.- lowed by the normalized pulse 122 of curve (D) in FlG.2, and it is applied, among other places, to the horizontal drive line 15 in F101. This pulse is sufficient to sustain, by briefly igniting, the gas cell at the coordinate intersection of the drive lines 15 and 21 in FlG.1. This completes the shift of the inserted binary information along the horizontal line 15 from the vertical line 40 to the vertical line 21. The pulse 122 of curve (D) in FlG.2 is followed by the P2 pulse 142 of curve (B). This P2 pulse is applied, among other places, to the vertical drive line 22 in F161, and it causes a discharge between the lower portion of the gas cell defined by the coordinate intersection of the drive lines 15 and 21 and the upper portion of gas cell defined by the coordinate intersection of the drive lines 15 and 22. The P2 pulse 142 of curve (B) in F162 is followed by the normalize pulse 123 of curve (D) in FIG.2, and it is applied, among other places, to the drive line 15. This pulse is effective to sustain, and thereby briefly ignite, the gas cell at the coordinate intersection of the drive lines 15 and 22. The normalize pulse 123 of curve (D) in F 16.2 is followed by the P3 pulse 143 of curve (C) of P162, and it is applied to the gate 81 in FlG.1. However the character generator does not supply a positive signal on the line 91 to the gate 81, and the absence of an output signal on the horizontal drive line 45 represents a binary zero. Consequently, the gas cell defined by the drive lines 40 and 45 is not ignited, and it remains dark. The P3 pulse 143 of curve (C) in FlG.2 is applied, among other places, to the vertical drive line 23. This pulse is effective to cause a gas discharge between the lower portion of the gas cell defined by the intersection of the lines 15 and 22 and the upper portion of the gas cell defined by the coordinate intersection of the drive lines 15 and 23. The P3 pulse 143 ofcurve (C) in FlG.2 is followed by the normalize pulse 124 of the curve (D), and this pulse is effective to sustain, and thereby briefly ignite, the gas cell defined by the coordinate intersection of the drive lines 15 and 23. However, this pulse is not effective to ignite the gas cell defined by the coordinate intersection of the drive lines 15 and 22. This completes the shift 1 cycle shown in curve (E) of P162 whereby the binary one state is shifted horizontally from the gas cell at the intersection of lines 40 and 45 to the intersection of the lines 15 and 23. Also, this completes the write 2 cycle shown in curve (E) in F IG.2. It is pointed out, by way of summary, that at this point the gas cell defined by the coordinate intersection of the drive lines 15 and 23 stores a binary one, and the gas cells defined by the coordinate intersections of the drive lines 15 and 22, 15 and 21, and the input drive lines 40 and 45 store binary zeros.

The binary one stored at the coordinate intersection of the drive lines 15 and 23 in FlG.1 is transferred by the shift 2 cycle in FIG.2 to the coordinate intersection defined by the drive lines 15 and 26 in FlG.1 in response to the sequence of pulses 144 through 146 of P162 and the normalize pulses 124 through 126 in the same manner as previously explained. The write 3 cycle of curve (E) in F162 takes place during the time of the P3 pulse 146, and the binary one data pulse 163 of curve (E) in F162 is effective to write a binary one by igniting the dark gas cell at the coordinate intersection of the drive lines 40 and 45 in FIG.1. This completes the third write cycle. At this point, by way of summary, binary ones are stored in the gas cells defined by the coordinate intersections of the drive lines 15 and 26 and 40 and 45. Binary zeros .are stored in the gas cells defined by the coordinate intersections of the line 15 with the lines 21 through 25.

The shift 3 cycle takes place in response to the sequence of pulses 147 through 149 and the train of pulses 127 through 129 of the curves (A) through (D) of FlG.2 in the manner previously explained, andthe binary ones stored at the coordinate intersection of the lines 15 and 26 and the coordinate intersection of the lines 40 and 45 are shifted to the gas cells defined by the coordinate intersections of the drive line 15 with the drive lines 23 and 29. When the P3 pulse 149 of curve (C) in F162 occurs, the write 4 cycle takes place, and the positive pulse 164 of curve (E) in F1G.2 ignites the gas cell at the coordinate intersection of the drive lines 40 and 45 in FIG.1. The normalize pulse 130 of curve (D) in FlG.2 commences shift cycle 4 not shown. Thus it is seen that binary data signals passing through the gate 81 in FIG.1 enter the gas panel on the left, and they are successively shifted to the right in response to the repetitive sequence of pulses P1 through P3 from the pulse distributor 63 and the interspersed normalize pulses from the normalize pulse generator 60. Old information stored on the far right of the gas panel 10 in FIG.1 is shifted off and lost as new information is entered at the left-Alternatively information shifted off at the right may be supplied to a sensing device, not shown, if it is desired to detect and forward this information to a load device which also is not shown.

Reference is made next to FIG.3 which is a crosssectional view taken on the line 33 of the gas panel in FlG.l. The envelope 10 in FIG.1 has a top or upper side 201 and a bottom or lower side 202 as seen more clearly in FIG.3. The sides and end portions which form a gas tight enclosure for the illuminable gas are not shown in F[G.3 in the interest of simplicity, and the proportions shown in FlG.3 are not drawn to scale. Next the parameters of construction and the operating potentials are discussed.

The illuminable gas employed in the envelope 10 preferably includes a mixture of gasses such as Neon and Argon. A Paschen curve may be drawn for a particular gas mixture by plotting breakdown Voltage, versus the gap or Distance across the gas. The Paschen curve may be formed alternatively by plotting the breakdown Voltage versus the product of the gas Pressure and the gap or Distance across the gas mixture. A mixture of Neon and Argon is suitable because the plot of the breakdown voltage versus the gap or distance through the gas for a Penning gas mixture results in a curve that is so flat at the bottom that the operating voltages are easily obtained.

The gas panel geometry in FIG.3, the gas mixture, and the Paschen operating points must be such that the application of sustain signals to the conductors 21 through 29 cause a gas discharge between these conductors at the top of FlG.3 and the lower conductor 15. For example, if a sustain signal is supplied to the conductor 21, a gas discharge takes place between points A and B if the gas cell defined by the coordinate intersection of the conductors and 21 stores a binary one, and a gas discharge takes place between points B and C whenever the conductor 22 is energized with a sustain signal and the gas cell defined by the conductors l5 and 21 stores a binary one; but the gas panel geometry, gas mixture, and Paschen operating points must be such that a sustain signal between the points BE will not cause a discharge whenever a sustain signal is supplied to the conductor 23 while the gas cell defined by the coordinate intersection of the conductors 15 and 21 stores a binary one. It is pointed out therefore that the panel geometry, gas mixture, and Paschen operating points must be such as to permit sustain signals to shift a binary one from any given cell to an adjacent cell, but the sustain signals must not be sufficient to shift a binary one from any given gas cell to a more remote gas cell not adjacent thereto. The distance AB which defines the gap distance of each gas cell may be different from the distance AC which defines the interval between adjacent gas cells. It is desirable in some cases, however, to make the distance AB equal to the distance AC as it simplifies the selection of appropriate magnitude of sustain signals, and this is done also to maximize the number of gas cells per each square inch in a gas panel and yet permit binary ones to be stored and shifted with reliability.

Next a shift operation is discussed with respect to FIG.3. It is assumed for this discussion that the gas cell defined by the coordinate intersection of the lines 15 and 23 in FIG.3 stores a binary one and that all remaining gas cells store binary zeros. It is also assumed in the interest of simplicity that a binary zero is shifted in from the left with each shift. Let it be assumed further that the pulses 144 through 146 and the pulses 124 through 127 of curves A through C in F162 occur in the order shown in F162. The positive pulse 124 is applied to the line 15 in FIG.3, and a sustain operation takes place whereby a gas discharge occurs between the conductors 15 and 23 across the points E and F. The wall charge left by the positive pulse 124 has a polarity such that negative charges collect around point F and positive charges collect around point E. The positive pulse 144 of curve A in FIG.2 is applied next to the conductors 21, 24, and 27 in FIG.1. This pulse on the conductor 24 in FIG. 3 causes a discharge to take place across the points G and- F in F163, and a discharge does not take place anywhere else. The wall charge across the gap GF is such that negative charges are collected to the point G and positive charges to the point F. It is pointed out that the charge cloud created in the discharge between the points G and F in FlG.3 tends to neutralize the negative wall charge around the point F and the positive wall charge around the point B from the previous gas discharge. Since the field intensity is strongest between the points G and H, it is quite possible that the discharge is initiated between the points G and F will be transferred to the points G and H and finally quenched due to the Wall charge. The transfer of discharge from GF (longer path length) to GH can be expected if one operates the panel at slightly a larger PD than that which corresponds to the Paschen minimum. The positive pulse 144 of curve (A) in F162 is followed by the positive pulse of curve (D) in FIG.2, and this positive normalize pulse is applied to the lines 15 through 19 in FIG]. This pulse on the line in FIG.3 causes a gas discharge between the conductor 24 and the conductor 15 across points G and H, and a gas discharge does not take place anywhere else in FIG.1. As a result of the discharge from the positive pulse on the line 15 in FlG.3 negative charges collect around point H and positive charges around point G. The positive pulse 125 of curve D in FIG.2 is followed by the positive pulse 145 of curve B in FlG.2, and this positive pulse is applied among other places, to the conductor 25 in FIG.3. A gas discharge takes place between points H and I with negative charges collecting around point I and positive charges around point H. The positive pulse 145 of curve (B) in FIG.2 is followed by the positive pulse 126 of curve (D) which is applied to the conductor in F IG.3. This positive pulse causes a gas discharge between the points I and J with negative charges collecting around point H and positive charges around point I. The positive pulse 126 of curve (D) in FlG.2 is followed by the positive pulse 146 of curve (C), and this pulse is applied among other places, to the conductor 26 in FIG.3. A gas discharge takes place between the conductors 15 and 26 across points 1 and K with negative charges collecting around point K and positive charges collecting around point J. The positive pulse 146 of curve '(C) in FlG.2 is followed by a positive pulse 127 of curve (D) in FlG.2, and this pulse is applied to the conductor 15 in FIG.3. A gas discharge takesplace between the conductors 15 and 26 across the points K and L with negative charges collecting around point L and positive charges collecting around point K. Thus it is seen how a binary one stored in a gas cell defined by points E and F is shifted to the right and stored in the gas cell defined by the point K and L. If another sequence of pulses P1, P2, and P3 are applied to the conductors 71 through 73 in F163 and normalize pulses are applied to the conductor 15, the binary one stored between the points K and L is shifted succes'sively through the gas cells defined by the points M-N and O-P, to the points Q-R in the same manner explained above. It is pointed out that the amplitude of the sustain signals P1, P2, and P3 are the normalize signals of curve (D) in FIG.3 is less than the ignition voltage of the gas mixture employed inthe gas panel, yet

the sequence of these pulses is effective to shift binary ones to the right across the gas panel. The only signals which equal or exceed the ignition potential of the gas are the signals supplied to the conductors 45 through 49 in FlG.1, and they are employed to insert binary ones in the gas cells defined by the coordinate intersections of these lines with the vertical line 40 in FIG.1. It is pointed out that a plurality of binary ones may be stored in the gas cells of FIG.3 and shifted to the right. For example, binary ones may be shifted in and stored in the gas cells defined by the coordinate intersections of the conductor 15 in FlG.3 with the conductors 23,26, and 29, and such binary ones may be shifted to the right simultaneously in response to the positive pulses of curves (A) through (E) of FIG.2 provided the remaining gas cells shown in F163 store binary zeros. The interval between binary ones shifted into the device of FIGS. 1 and 3 is determined by the interval between P3 pulses. The gas cells defined by the coordinate intersections of the conductor 15 with the conductors 21 and 22 in FlG.3 serve as intermediate position or buffer storage for a binary one shifted from the gas cell defined by the coordinate intersection of the conductors 40 and 45in FIG.1 of the write arrangement to the gas cell defined by the coordinate intersection of the conductors 15 and 23. The gas cells defined by the coordinate intersections of the conductor 15 with the conductors 24 and 25 of FIG.3 serve as intermediate position or buffer storage during a shifting operation of a binary one from the gas cell defined by the coordinate intersection of the conductors 15 -and 23 in FIG.3 to the gas cell defined by the coordinate intersection of the conductors 15 and 26. The gas cells defined by the coordinate intersections of the conductor 15 with the conductors 27 and 28 in FIG.3 serve as intermediate 10 position or buffer storage as a binary one is shifted from the gas cell defined by the coordinate intersection of the conductors 15 and 26 in FlG.3 to the gas cell defined by the coordinate intersection of the conductors 15 and 29. Any binary one stored in the gas cell defined by the coordinate intersection of the conductors l5 and 29 in FIG.3 is shifted off to the right whenever a shift operation takes place. Thus it is seen how binary ones stored in FlGS.1 and 3 in gas cells defined by the coordinate intersection of the conductors 40 and and the coordinate intersection of the conductor 15 with the conductors 23,26, and 29, when the remaining gas cells along the conductor 15 storing binary zeros, may be shifted to the right simultaneously by successive shifts. Reference is made next to FIG.4 for a description of a gas panel wherein information may be shifted horizontally and vertically. The gas storage and display device includes a container 300 filled with an illuminable gas with vertical conductor 301 through 318 disposed thereon and horizontal conductors 330 through 342 disposed therebeneath. PulsesPl, P2, and P3 are applied sequentially on respective lines 351 through 353 to various ones of the vertical lines 301 through 318 as shown. Video signals are applied to a line 354 which serves as an ignition electrode to insert binary information in the upper left hand corner of the gas filled envelope-300. A sequence of pulses R1, R2, and R3 are applied on respective lines 361 through 363 to associated ones of the horizontal conductors 331 through 342 as shownQA write arrangement includes conductors 330 and 354. Binary ones are inserted in the upper lefthand corner of the gas-filled container 300 by applying a signal to the line 354 which exceeds the ignition potential, and the gas cell defined by the intersection of the lines 330 and 354 is ignited. This gas cell is identified by the reference numeral 365. Normalize pulses are applied to the line 330 periodically. The normalized pulses havean amplitude equal to or greater than the sustain level but less than the ignition level of a gas mixture within the container 300. The pulses P1, P2, and P3 likewise have an amplitude equal to or greater than the sustain level but less than the ignition level of the gas mixture within the envelope 300, and these pulses are used to shift information to the right. The pulses R1, R2, and

R3 have an amplitude equal to or greater than the sustain level of the gas mixture in the envelope 300 but less than the ignition level of the gas mixture, and these pulses are employed in a vertical shift operation to shift information from the top of the gas envelope 300 down along the vertical lines.

The operating signals for the gas panel in F IG.4 are discussed next, and for this purpose reference is made to curves (A) through (H) of FlG.5. The curves (A) through (D) show the relationship of the respective pulses P1, P2, P3, and normalize. The pulses P1 through P3 occur in a repetitive sequence. The pulses 401 through 403 constitute the first sequence; the pulses 404 through 406 constitute the second sequence; and pulses 407 through 409 constitute the third sequence. The pulses P1 and P2 terminate when horizontal shifting is finished. The pulses P3 continue at all times, and they serve to sustain binary ones stored along the line 330 in FIG.4 during and between horizontal shifting operations. The pulses 410 and .411 of the curve (C) represent continuation of the P3 pulses which sustain gas cells along the line 330 after horizontal shifting terminates.

The normalize pulses 421 through 429 are applied to the horizontal line 330 in FIG.4, and they serve to sustain and shift binary ones stored along the horizontal line 330 in FIG.4. Binary ones are entered in the upper lefthand corner of the gas envelope 300 in FIG.4 by signals on the line 354 which exceed the ignition potential of the gas cell 365 defined by the lines 330 and 354 in FIG.4. Signals representing binary ones and zeros are arbitrarily depicted in curve (E) in FIGS. The pulses 441 and 443 represent binary ones, and the dotted line pulse 442 signifies the absence of a pulse which represents binary zero.

For vertical shift operations the sequence of pulses R1, R2 and R3 of respective curves (F) through (H) in FIGS are supplied to respective lines 361 through 363 in FIG.4. These pulses are supplied in sequence, and each sequence of such pulses shifts binary ones stored along the lines 331,334,337, and 340 down to the next one of such lines. Pulses 451 through 453 of respective surves (F) through (H) in FIG.5 represent one sequence of the vertical shift pulses R1 through R3. The R3 pulses 461 through 463 serve to sustain binary ones stored along the horizontal lines 333, 336, 339, and 342 in FIG.4 when vertical shifting is not taking place.

The operation of the gas panel in FIG.4 is described next. Reference is made to FIG.5 for the waveforms applied to the conductors 330, 351 through 354 and 361 through 363 in FIG.4. The driving circuits for supplying these pulses to such lines in FIG.4 are omitted in the interest of simplicity. Let it be assumed for purposes of this discussion that the gas panel in FIG.4 stores binary zeros in all gas cells and that binary data pulses illustrated in FIGS (E) represent binary data to be inserted by the write arrangement in the upper lefthand corner of the gas envelope 300 and shifted to the right along the input horizontal line 330 of the write arrangement. The data pulse 441 of curve (E) in FIGS is supplied to the video input conductor 354 in FIG.4. The pulse 441 has sufficient amplitude to equal or exceed the ignition potential of the gas cell 365 in FIG.4. The normalize pulse 421 of curve (D) of FIG. 5 is supplied next on the line 330 in FIG.4. This pulse sustains the gas cell 365, and the brief ignition of this cell reverses the polarity of the wall charge in the manner earlier explained with reference to the gas cells in F103. The positive pulse 441 on the line 354 causes negative wall charges of the gas cell 365 to collect on the lower wall of the envelope 300, and the positive pulse 421 on the line 330 in FIG.4 causes positive charges to collect on the lower wall of the envelope 300 of the gas cell 365. The polarity of the wall charge for each gas cell in the gas panel storing a binary one is reversed each time'positive pulses are applied to opposite sides of the envelope 300 in FIG.4, and this wall charge reversal is not specifically pointed out further hereinafter. The pulse 421 in curve (D) of F165 is followed by the pulse 401 of curve (A) in F165, and this pulse is applied on the line 351 in FIG.4 to every third vertical line commencing with the line 301. The positive pulse on the line 301 has an amplitude equal to or greater than the sustain level of the illuminable gas in the envelope 300, but this amplitude is less than the ignition potential of the illuminable gas. This pulse causes a sustain discharge to take place, as explained previously, between the lower region of the gas cell 365 and the upper region of the gas cell defined by the intersection of the lines 301 and 330. The normalize pulse 422 of the curve (D) in FIG.5 follows on the line 330 in FIG.4, and it sustains by igniting the gas cell defined by the coordinate intersection of the lines 301 and 330. The pulse 402 of curve (B) in FIGS follows on the line 352 in FIG.4, and this positive potential is applied to the vertical line 302 in FIG.4. This causes a region to be ignited between the lower portion of the gas cell defined by the lines 301 and 330 and the upper portion of the gas cell defined by the intersection of the lines 302 and 330 as explained previously with respect to FIG.3. The pulse 423 of curve (D) in FIG.5 follows next on the line 330 in FIG.4, and the gas cell defined by the intersection of the lines 302 and 330 is sustained by being briefly ignited. The pulse 403 of curve (C) in FIGS is applied next on the line 353 and the line 303 to ignite a region between the lower portion of the gas cell defined by the intersections of the lines 302 and 330 and the upper portion of the gas cell defined by the intersection of the lines 303 and 330. The pulse 424 of curve (D) in FIGS follows next on the line 330, and the gas cell defined by the coordinate intersection of the lines 303 and 330 is sustained by being briefly ignited. Thus the binary one written in the gas cell 365 is shifted from the upper lefthand corner of the envelope 300 to the intersection defined by the lines 303 and 330 in response to the pulses 401 through 403 and 421 through 424 of curves (A) through (D) in FIGS. Thus it is seen how a binary one is inserted and shifted to the right and stored on the line 303. The cell 365 is not ignited during the next write operation because a positive signal is not applied to the line 354 in FIG.4. This is signified by the dotted line pulse 442 of curve (E) in FIGS. However, the sequence of pulses 404 through 406 and 425 through 427 of curves (A) through (D) of FIGS shift the binary one from the gas cell at the intersection of the lines 303 and 330 to the gas cell at the intersection defined by the lines 306 and 330. During the next write operation the pulse 443 of curve (E) in FIG.5 is applied to the line 354 and the cell 365 is ignited. The sequence of pulses 407 through 409 and the pulses 428 and 429 of curves (A) through (D) follow, and the ignited gas cell 365 in FIG.4 is shifted to the right and stored in the gas cell defined by the intersection of the lines 303 and 330. Simultaneously the ignited gas cell defined by the coordinate intersection of the lines 306 and 330 in FIG.4 is shifted to the right and stored in the gas cell defined by the coordinate intersection of the lines 309 and 330. Horizontal shifting is terminated at this point. The P3 pulses continue periodically .as illustrated by the pulses 410 and 411, and they serve to sustain binary ones stored along the line 330.

Next a shift of this information downwardly along the vertical axis of the envelope 300 is described. The gas cell defined by the coordinate intersection of the lines 309 and 330 in FIG.4 and the gas cells defined by the coordinate intersection of the lines 303 and 330 store binary ones. The gas cell defined by the coordinate intersection of the vertical line 306 and the horizontal line 30 stores a binary zero. In fact all remaining gas cells store binary zeros. It is pointed out that the gas cells storing binary ones are sustained by P3 pulses on the line 353 because these pulses are applied to the vertical lines 303 and 309. These gas cells are sustained by the P3 pulses indefinitely. Let it be assumed for illustrative purposes that this information is to be shifted downwardly and stored in gas cells defined by the coordinate intersections of the horizontal line 333 and the vertical lines 303 and 309. The R1 pulse 451 of curve (F) in FIG.5 is applied on the line 361 in FIG.4 to the horizontal line 331. This causes a gas discharge to take place in the region between the upper portion of the gas cell defined by the intersection of the lines 303 and 330 and the lower portion of the gas cell defined by the intersection of the lines 303 and 331 because the gas cell defined by the coordinate intersection of the lines 303 and 330 stores a binary one. Likewise, the positive pulse 451 on the horizontal line 331 causes a gas discharge to take place in the region between the upper portion of the gas cell defined by the intersection of the lines 309 and 330 and the lower portion of the gas cell defined by the intersection of the lines 309 and 331 because a binary one is stored at the coordinate intersection of the lines 309 and 330. The pulse 410 of curve (C) in FIGS follows next on the line 353 in FIG.4, and this positive signal is applied to the line 303 to cause a gas discharge to take place between the horizontal line 331 and the vertical line 303. The positive pulse 410 is applied also to the vertical line 309, and this causes a gas discharge to take place between the horizontal line 331 and the vertical line 309. The positive pulse on the line 353 is applied also to the vertical line 306, but no gas discharge takes place between the vertical line 306 and the horizontalline 331 because (1) the amplitude of the signal is less than the ignition potential of the illuminable gas and (2) a binary zero is stored in the cell defined by the coordinate intersection of the vertical line 306 and the horizontal line 330.

The positive pulse 452 of curve (G) in FIGS follows next on the line 362 in FIG.4, and it is applied to the horizontal 4 line 332. Consequently, a gas discharge takes place between the upper portion of the gas cell at the intersection of the lines 303 and 331 and the lower portion of the gas cell at the intersection of the lines 303 and 332, and a gas discharge also takes place between the upper portion of the gas cell at the intersection of the lines 309 and 331 and the lower portion of the gas cell at the intersection of the lines 309 and 332 since binary ones are stored at the coordinate intel-sections of the horizontal line 331 and a vertical line 303 and309. The pulse 411 of curve (C) in FlG.5'follows next on the line 353 in FIG.4, and it is applied to the vertical lines 303 and 309. This causes a gas discharge to take place between the horizontal line 332 and the 'veritcal line 303 and 309.

The positive pulse 453 of curve (H) in FIGS follows next on'the line 363 in F 16.4, and t is applied to the horizontal line 333. This causes a gas discharge to take place between the upper portion of the gas cell at the intersection of the lines 303 and 332 and the lower portion of the gas cell at the intersection of the lines 303 and 333, and it causes a gas discharge to take place between-the upper portion of the gas cell at the intersection of the lines 309 and 332 and the lower portion of the gas cell at the intersection of the lines 309 and 333 since binary ones are stored in the gas cells defined by the coordinate intersections of the line 332 with the lines 303 and 309. A P3 pulse, not shown, occurs next,

the vertical line 309 and the horizontal line 333. Since R3 pulses are continuously supplied to the line 363 in FlG.4 and P3pulses are continuously supplied to the formation may be stored indefinitely in the gas cells of the matrix array defined by the coordinate intersections of the vertical lines 303, 306, 309, 312, 315 and 318 connected to the line 353 in FIG.4 with the horizontal lines 333, 336, 339 and 342 connected to the line 363 and the horizontal line 330. Thus it is seen how binary ones stored along the line 330 at the coordinate intersections of the vertical lines 303 and 309 may be shifted vertically downward and stored at gas cells defined by the coordinate intersections of the horizontal line 333 with the vertical lines 303 and 309.

It is pointed out that the information in F164 may be entered in the upper lefthand corner and shifted horizontally to the right and stored on any one of the vertical lines 303, 306, 309, 312, 315 or 318. Such information-may be shifted vertically downward along these lines and stored indefinitely in any gas cell associated with an intersecting one of the horizontal lines 333, 336, 339 or 342. Information thus may be shifted horizontally or it may be shifted vertically. When not shifting horizontally or vertically, information may be retained indefinitely in gas cells at the coordinate intersections of the horizontal lines 330, 333, 336, 339, and 340 with the vertical lines 303, 306, 309, 313, 315, or 318. It is seen then that there is an interval of two gas cells horizontally and two gas cells vertically between each pair of adjacent displaying gas cells where binary information may be stored indefinitely, and these two gas cells of the interval are used for temporary storage when shifting binary information.

From the foregoing certain design criteria may be stated for the case where the interval between permanent storage cells is two cells. If a matrix array as N vertical conductors and W horizontal conductors, where N and W are any integers each of which is a multiple of three, then the sets of vertical and horizontal lines which receive the repetitivesequence of pulses easily may beidentified. The P1 pulses are connected to the vertical conductors 1,4,7, N-2; the P2 pulses are connected to the vertical conductors 2,5,8, N-l; and the P3 pulses are connected to the vertical conduc tors 3,6,9, N. Each set of three successive vertical lines is energized seriatim by pulses P1, P2 and P3-in the direction of the horizontal shift of binary information. The R1 pulses are connected to. the horizontal conductors 1,4,7, W-.-2; the R2 signals are connected to the horizontal conductors 2,5,8, W-l; and the R3 signals are connected to the horizontal conductors 3,6,9, W. Each set of three successive horizontal lines is energized seriatim by the signals R1, R2 and R3 in the direction of the vertical shift of binary information. If the interval of two gas cells between adjacent permanent storage gas cells is increased, the number of pulses in each repetitive sequence likewise must be increased correspondingly. In this event N and W must be multiples of a correspoindingly larger number. For example, if the interval is increasedto three gas cells, then there must be pulses P1, P2, P3, and P4 for horizontal shifting, and there must be pulses R1, R2, R3, and R4 for vertical shifting. Inthis case N and W must be multiples of four, and it is noted that the multiple indicates the number of horizontal lines per bit of permanent storage. Likewise, the multiple indicates that number of vertical lines per bit of permanent storage.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is: l. A gas panel for storing, displaying, and selectively shifting information from one place therein to another comprising:

an envelope filled with an illuminable gas,

a plurality of N vertical conductors disposed in parallel on one side of said envelope, wherein N is any integer which is a multiple of three, a plurality of W horizontal conductors disposed in parallel on the opposite side of said envelope orthogonally to the N vertical conductors, where W is any integer which is a multiple of three, the illuminable gas in the vicinity of the coordinate intersections of the vertical and horizontal conductors defining gas cells,

first signal means coupled to a given portion of said envelope for writing therein binary information by igniting or not igniting the illuminable gas to represent binary ones and zeros,

second signal means for supplying a sequence of discrete signals P1, P2, and P3 for shifting information horizontally, means connecting the P1 signals to the vertical conductors 1,4,7, N-Z, means connecting the P2 signals to the vertical conductors 2,5,8, N,1, and means connecting the P3 signals to the vertical conductors 3,6,9, N whereby each set of three successive vertical lines is energized seriatim by the signals P1, P2, and P3 in the direction of the horizontal shift of binary information,

third signal means for supplying a sequence of discrete signals R1, R2, and R3 for shifting information vertically, means connecting the R1 signals to the horizontal conductors 1,4,7, W-2, means connecting the R2 signals to the horizontal conductors 2,5,8, W-l, and means connecting the R3 signals to the horizontal conductors 3,6,9, W, whereby each set of three successive horizontal lines is energized seriatim by the signals R1, R2, and R3 in the direction of the vertical shift of binary' information,

' fourth signals means for supplying a train of normalize signals, means coupling the train of normalize signals to each horizontal conductor on which new information is written and shifted horizontally, said train of normalize signals being composed of discrete signals which occur in time between each of the pulses P1, P2, and P3,

said second signal means including additional means for continuing to supply P3 signals on the associated vertical conductors to sustain ignited gas cells whenever no horizontal shifting of binary information takes place, and v said third means including further means for continuing to supply R3 signals to the associated horizontal conductors to sustain ignited gas cells whenever no vertical shifting of binary information takesplace.

2. A gas panel for storing, displaying, and selectively shifting information from one place therein to another comprising:

an envelope filled with an illuminable gas,

a plurality of N vertical conductors disposed in parallel on one side of said envelope, where N is any integer which is a multiple of three, a plurality of W horizontal conductors disposed in parallel on the opposite side of said envelope orthogonally to the N vertical conductors, where W is any integer which is a multiple of three, the illuminable gas in the vicinity of the coordinate intersections of the vertical and horizontal conductors defining gas cells,

first signal means coupled to a given portion of said envelope for writing therein binary information by igniting or not igniting the illuminable gas to represent binary ones and zeros, and

second signal means coupled to said vertical conductors for shifting binary information selectively from the gas cell to another along said horizontal conductors,

normalize signal means for supplying a train of discrete signals, said normalize signal means being connected to all horizontal lines which receive and shift binary information written in the gas panel, and

third signal means coupled to the horizontal conductors for shifting binary information selectively from one gas cell to another along said vertical conductors.

3. A gas panel for storing, displaying, and selectively shifting information from one place therein to another comprising:

an envelope filled with an illuminable gas,

a plurality of vertical conductors disposed in parallel on one side of said envelope, a plurality of horizontal conductors disposed in parallel on the opposite side of said envelope orthogonally to the plurality of vertical conductor, the illuminable gas in the vicinity of the coordinate intersections of the vertical and horizontal conductors defining gas cells,

writing means coupled to a given portion of said envelope for writing binary information therein by igniting or not igniting the illuminable gas to represent binary ones and zeros, said writing means including at least one additional horizontal conductor disposed parallel with said plurality of horizontal conductors on the opposite side of said envelope, at least one additional vertical conductor disposed parallel with said plurality of vertical conductors on the one side of said envelope, first signal means coupled to said additional vertical conductor for applying a signal equal to or greater than the ignition potential of the gas when writing a binary one and no signal when writing a binary zero,

second means coupled to said additional horizontal line for supplying a train of normalize signals thereto when shifting information horizontally,

third signal means for supplying a repetitive sequence of discrete signals P1, P2, and P3 when shifting information horizontally, means connecting the Pl signals to the vertical conductors 1,4,7, N-2, where N is any integer which is a multiple of three, means connecting the P2 signals to the vertical conductors 2,5,8, N-l, and means connecting the P3 signals to the vertical conductors 3,6,9,

. N, whereby each set of three vertical conductors is energized seriatim by the successive signals P1, P2, and P3 in the direction of the horizontal shift of binary information,

fourth signal means for supplying a repetitive sequence of signals R1, R2, and R3 when shifting information vertically, means connecting the R1 signals to the horizontal conductors 1,4,7, W2, where W is any integer which is a multiple of three, means connecting the R2 signals to the horizontal conductors 2,5,8, W-l, and means connecting the R3 signals to the horizontal conductors 3,6,9, W, whereby each set of three horizontal conductors is energized seriatim by the successive signals R1, R2 and R3 in the direction of the vertical shift of binary information,

said third signal means including additional means for continuing to supply P3 signals on the associated vertical conductors to sustain ignited gas cells whenever no horizontal shifting of binary information takes place,.and

said fourth signal means includes further means for continuing to supply R3 signals to the associated horizontal conductors to sustain ignited gas cells whenever no vertical shifting of binary information takes place.

4. A gas panel for storing, displaying and selectively shifting information from one place therein to another comprising:

an envelope filled with an illuminable gas, a plurality of N vertical conductors disposed in parallel on one side of said envelope, where N is any integer which is a multiple of three, a plurality of horizontal conductors disposed in parallel on the opposite side of said envelope orthogonally to the N vertical conductors, the illuminable gas in the vicinity of the coordinate intersections of the vertical and horizontal conductors defining WN gas cells,

writing means coupled to a given portion of said envelope for writing therein binary information by igniting or not igniting the illuminable gas to represent binary ones and zeros, said first means including an additional vertical conductor disposed parallel to the N vertical conductors on one side of said envelope, at least one additional horizontal conductor disposed parallel with the W horizontal conductors on the opposite side of said envelope, first signal means coupled to the additional horizontal conductor for applying a signal equal to or greater than the, ignition potential of the illuminable gas to write a binary one and no signal to write a binary zero,

second signal means coupled to each of the horizontal conductors for supplying a train of normalize signals thereto,

third signal means for supplying a repetitive sequence of signals P1, P2, and P3 when shifting information horizontally, means connecting the Pl signals to the vertical conductors 1,4,7, N2, means conmeeting the P2 signals to the vertical conductors 2,5,8, N-l, and means connecting the P3 signals to the vertical conductors 3,6,9, N, whereby each set of three vertical conductors is energized seriatim by the successive signals P1,P2, and P3 in the direction of the horizontal shift of binary information.

5. A gas panel for storing, displaying, and selectively an envelope filled with an illuminable gas,

a plurality of vertical conductors disposed in parallel on one side of said envelope, a plurality of horizontal conductors disposed in parallel on the opposite side of said envelope orthogonally to the vertical conductors, the illuminable gas in the vicinity of the coordinate intersections of the vertical and horizontal conductors defining gas cells,

first signal means coupled to a given portion of said envelope for writing therein binary information by igniting or not igniting the illuminable gas to represent binary ones and zeros,

second signal means coupled to said vertical conductors and said horizontal conductors for shifting binary information selectively from one gas cell to another along said horizontal and vertical conductors,

said second means including a source of discrete signals which supplies a repetitive sequence of signals Pll, P2, and P3 for shifting information horizontally, means connecting the P1 signals to the vertical conductors 1,4,7, N2, where N is any integer which is a multipleof 3, means connecting the P2 signals to the vertical conductors 2,5,8,

N1, and means connecting the P3 signals. to the vertical conductors 3,6,9, N, whereby each set of 3 vertical conductors is energized seriatim by the successive signals P1, P2 and P3 in the direction of the horizontal shift of binary information, and

said second signal means including a further source of discrete signals which supplies a repetitive sequence of signals R]l,R2 and R3, means connecting the R1 signals to the horizontal conductors 1,4,7, W-2, where W is any integer which is a multiple of three, means connecting the R2 signals to the horizontal conductors 2,5,8, W-ll, and means connecting the R3 signals to the horizontal conductors 3,6,9, W, whereby each set of three horizontal conductors is energized seriatim by the successive signals R1, R2 and R3 in the direction of the vertical shift of binary information.

6. A gas panel for storing, displaying and selectively shifting information from one place therein to another comprising:

an envelope filled with an illuminable gas,

a plurality of vertical conductors disposed in parallel on one side of said envelope, a plurality of horizontal conductors disposed in parallel on the opposite side of said envelope orthogonally to the vertical conductors, the illuminable gas in the vicinity of the coordinate intersections of the vertical and horizontal conductors defining gas cells,

first signal means coupled to a given portion of said envelope for writing therein binary information by igniting or not igniting the illuminable gas to represent binary ones and zeros,

secondsignal means coupled to said vertical conductors for shifting binary information selectively from one gas cell to another along said horizontal conductors, I

said first signal means being disposed to write in gas cells adjacent to each horizontal conductor on a vertical line not connected to the second means,

each horizontal conductor with a train of signals which is interspersed with the signals provided by the third signal means whereby each individual signal of the train of the normalize signal means occurs in time between each pair of signals from the third means. 

1. A gas panel for storing, displaying, and selectively shifting information from one place therein to another comprising: an envelope filled with an illuminable gas, a plurality of N vertical conductors disposed in parallel on one side of said envelope, wherein N is any integer which is a multiple of three, a plurality of W horizontal conductors disposed in parallel on the opposite side of said envelope orthogonally to the N vertical conductors, where W is any integer which is a multiple of three, the illuminable gas in the vicinity of the coordinate intersections of the vertical and horizontal conductors defining gas cells, first signal means coupled to a given portion of said envelope for writing therein binary information by igniting or not igniting the illuminable gas to represent binary ones and zeros, second signal means for supplying a sequence of discrete signals P1, P2, and P3 for shifting information horizontally, means connecting the P1 signals to the vertical conductors 1,4,7, . . . N-2, means connecting the P2 signals to the vertical conductors 2,5,8, . . . N-1, and means connecting the P3 signals to the vertical conductors 3,6,9, . . . N whereby each set of three successive vertical lines is energized seriatim by the signals P1, P2, and P3 in the direction of the horizontal shift of binary information, third signal means for supplying a sequence of discrete signals R1, R2, and R3 for shifting information vertically, means connecting the R1 signals to the horizontal conductors 1,4,7, . . . W-2, means connecting the R2 signals to the horizontal conductors 2,5,8, . . . W-1, and means connecting the R3 signals to the horizontal conductors 3,6,9, . . . W, whereby each set of three successive horizontal lines is energized seriatim by the signals R1, R2, and R3 in the direction of the vertical shift of binary information, fourth signals means for supplying a train of normalize signals, means coupling the train of normalize signals to each horizontal conductor on which new information is written and shifted horizontally, said train of normalize signals being composed of discrete signals which occur in time between each of the pulses P1, P2, and P3, said second signal means including additional means for continuing to supply P3 signals on the associated vertical conductors to sustain ignited gas cells whenever no horizontal shifting of binary information takes place, and said third means including further means for continuing to supply R3 signals to the associated horizontal conductors to sustain ignited gas cells whenever no vertical shifting of binary information takes place.
 2. A gas panel for storing, displaying, and selectively shifting information from one place therein to another comprising: an envelope filled with an illuminable gas, a plurality of N vertical conductors disposed in parallel on one side of said envelope, where N is any integer which is a multiple of three, a plurality of W horizontal conductors disposed in parallel on the opposite side of said envelope orthogonally to the N vertical conductors, where W is any integer which is A multiple of three, the illuminable gas in the vicinity of the coordinate intersections of the vertical and horizontal conductors defining gas cells, first signal means coupled to a given portion of said envelope for writing therein binary information by igniting or not igniting the illuminable gas to represent binary ones and zeros, and second signal means coupled to said vertical conductors for shifting binary information selectively from the gas cell to another along said horizontal conductors, normalize signal means for supplying a train of discrete signals, said normalize signal means being connected to all horizontal lines which receive and shift binary information written in the gas panel, and third signal means coupled to the horizontal conductors for shifting binary information selectively from one gas cell to another along said vertical conductors.
 3. A gas panel for storing, displaying, and selectively shifting information from one place therein to another comprising: an envelope filled with an illuminable gas, a plurality of vertical conductors disposed in parallel on one side of said envelope, a plurality of horizontal conductors disposed in parallel on the opposite side of said envelope orthogonally to the plurality of vertical conductor, the illuminable gas in the vicinity of the coordinate intersections of the vertical and horizontal conductors defining gas cells, writing means coupled to a given portion of said envelope for writing binary information therein by igniting or not igniting the illuminable gas to represent binary ones and zeros, said writing means including at least one additional horizontal conductor disposed parallel with said plurality of horizontal conductors on the opposite side of said envelope, at least one additional vertical conductor disposed parallel with said plurality of vertical conductors on the one side of said envelope, first signal means coupled to said additional vertical conductor for applying a signal equal to or greater than the ignition potential of the gas when writing a binary one and no signal when writing a binary zero, second means coupled to said additional horizontal line for supplying a train of normalize signals thereto when shifting information horizontally, third signal means for supplying a repetitive sequence of discrete signals P1, P2, and P3 when shifting information horizontally, means connecting the P1 signals to the vertical conductors 1,4,7, . . . N-2, where N is any integer which is a multiple of three, means connecting the P2 signals to the vertical conductors 2,5,8, . . . N-1, and means connecting the P3 signals to the vertical conductors 3,6,9, . . . N, whereby each set of three vertical conductors is energized seriatim by the successive signals P1, P2, and P3 in the direction of the horizontal shift of binary information, fourth signal means for supplying a repetitive sequence of signals R1, R2, and R3 when shifting information vertically, means connecting the R1 signals to the horizontal conductors 1, 4,7, . . . W-2, where W is any integer which is a multiple of three, means connecting the R2 signals to the horizontal conductors 2,5,8, . . . W-1, and means connecting the R3 signals to the horizontal conductors 3,6,9, . . . W, whereby each set of three horizontal conductors is energized seriatim by the successive signals R1, R2 and R3 in the direction of the vertical shift of binary information, said third signal means including additional means for continuing to supply P3 signals on the associated vertical conductors to sustain ignited gas cells whenever no horizontal shifting of binary information takes place, and said fourth signal means includes further means for continuing to supply R3 signals to the associated horizontal conductors to sustain ignited gas cells whenever no vertical shifting of binary information takes place.
 4. A gas panel for storing, displaying and seleCtively shifting information from one place therein to another comprising: an envelope filled with an illuminable gas, a plurality of N vertical conductors disposed in parallel on one side of said envelope, where N is any integer which is a multiple of three, a plurality of horizontal conductors disposed in parallel on the opposite side of said envelope orthogonally to the N vertical conductors, the illuminable gas in the vicinity of the coordinate intersections of the vertical and horizontal conductors defining WN gas cells, writing means coupled to a given portion of said envelope for writing therein binary information by igniting or not igniting the illuminable gas to represent binary ones and zeros, said first means including an additional vertical conductor disposed parallel to the N vertical conductors on one side of said envelope, at least one additional horizontal conductor disposed parallel with the W horizontal conductors on the opposite side of said envelope, first signal means coupled to the additional horizontal conductor for applying a signal equal to or greater than the ignition potential of the illuminable gas to write a binary one and no signal to write a binary zero, second signal means coupled to each of the horizontal conductors for supplying a train of normalize signals thereto, third signal means for supplying a repetitive sequence of signals P1, P2, and P3 when shifting information horizontally, means connecting the P1 signals to the vertical conductors 1,4, 7, . . . N-2, means connecting the P2 signals to the vertical conductors 2,5,8, . . . N-1, and means connecting the P3 signals to the vertical conductors 3,6,9, . . . N, whereby each set of three vertical conductors is energized seriatim by the successive signals P1,P2, and P3 in the direction of the horizontal shift of binary information.
 5. A gas panel for storing, displaying, and selectively shifting information from one place therein to another comprising: an envelope filled with an illuminable gas, a plurality of vertical conductors disposed in parallel on one side of said envelope, a plurality of horizontal conductors disposed in parallel on the opposite side of said envelope orthogonally to the vertical conductors, the illuminable gas in the vicinity of the coordinate intersections of the vertical and horizontal conductors defining gas cells, first signal means coupled to a given portion of said envelope for writing therein binary information by igniting or not igniting the illuminable gas to represent binary ones and zeros, second signal means coupled to said vertical conductors and said horizontal conductors for shifting binary information selectively from one gas cell to another along said horizontal and vertical conductors, said second means including a source of discrete signals which supplies a repetitive sequence of signals P1, P2, and P3 for shifting information horizontally, means connecting the P1 signals to the vertical conductors 1,4,7, . . . N-2, where N is any integer which is a multiple of 3, means connecting the P2 signals to the vertical conductors 2,5,8, . . . N-1, and means connecting the P3 signals to the vertical conductors 3,6,9, . . . N, whereby each set of 3 vertical conductors is energized seriatim by the successive signals P1, P2 and P3 in the direction of the horizontal shift of binary information, and said second signal means including a further source of discrete signals which supplies a repetitive sequence of signals R1,R2 and R3, means connecting the R1 signals to the horizontal conductors 1,4,7, . . . W-2, where W is any integer which is a multiple of three, means connecting the R2 signals to the horizontal conductors 2,5,8, . . . W-1, and means connecting the R3 signals to the horizontal conductors 3,6,9, . . . W, whereby each set of three horizontal conductors is energized seriatim by the successive signals R1, R2 anD R3 in the direction of the vertical shift of binary information.
 6. A gas panel for storing, displaying and selectively shifting information from one place therein to another comprising: an envelope filled with an illuminable gas, a plurality of vertical conductors disposed in parallel on one side of said envelope, a plurality of horizontal conductors disposed in parallel on the opposite side of said envelope orthogonally to the vertical conductors, the illuminable gas in the vicinity of the coordinate intersections of the vertical and horizontal conductors defining gas cells, first signal means coupled to a given portion of said envelope for writing therein binary information by igniting or not igniting the illuminable gas to represent binary ones and zeros, second signal means coupled to said vertical conductors for shifting binary information selectively from one gas cell to another along said horizontal conductors, said first signal means being disposed to write in gas cells adjacent to each horizontal conductor on a vertical line not connected to the second means, said second signal means including third signal means coupled to the vertical conductors for energizing sets of the vertical conductors by a sequence of signals with the vertical conductors in each set being energized seriatim by successive signals of each sequence, and normalize signal means coupled to each horizontal conductor, said normalize signal means energizing each horizontal conductor with a train of signals which is interspersed with the signals provided by the third signal means whereby each individual signal of the train of the normalize signal means occurs in time between each pair of signals from the third means. 